So yes, many players have said nice things about McD. But that’s the same thing as any coach saying you have to take the season one game at a time. It’s just the cliche dialogue NFL people use to promote a positive reputation. I take all those kinds of statements with a grain of salt. No matter what players say, I feel the effort they show on the field outweighs any regurgitated words they may spew out for the media’s benefit.

In regards to McKinley, when that story was released my heart sunk. Its sad to think that he and many more like him get into such a situation (Nothing to do with Jersey Shore) that they think the only answer is end their life. Gutting for his family and friends that were there to support him but didn’t realise the full extent of his mental state.

There were only 6 of the 16 losses that were within a score. Forgot about SD at home last year (must’ve blocked it out), and that Indy handled Us both this year and last. and about Pittsburgh last year, Washington beat Us by ten, and the Chiefs handled Us end of the year last season.

So 6 ‘close’ games (could have easily been wins), 7 games where We lost by more than two scores (obvious losses with no questionability), and 3 that were definitely in the ‘winnable’ category otherwise.

* Besides that (attempt to act like we were going to play a) game against the Raiders, the loss to SD this year, and both Baltimore losses…. We have been in every game We’ve played the last two seasons. Very competitively… I’ll go total them up and see how many We lost of the 16 so far, by less than one score, to be sure.

Yovi, things I see that are promising… Off the top of my head

* 6 – 0 start to his career

* Thanksgiving win against the Giants last year. That was a great MF game. All around.

* 3 – 0 against divisional opponents on the road, so far (hey, we’re looking for positives, I know all too well that ugly home record against divisional opponents)

* Great (perhaps elite) football mind. This man can engineer the passing game, there is no doubt about it. In order to be able to do so, one must understand the contrast to the running game, therefore understand the running game. One cannot have a firm grasp on either without understanding the Defense. I see the football mind McDaniels has, Special Teams is the only questionable aspect of his overall football mind, to me. The only other thing that’s questionable, is how great a football mind does he have? (To me We have not seen enough execution to form a realistic overall view, as stated below)

* Players back him. From Brandon Marshall to Brandon Lloyd (not to mention guys who were/are with the Pats when he was), We’ve all heard them sound like they are completely behind the coach and believe in what he is laying down. B-Marsh’s actions may not have always reflect this, obviously, but I have not heard/read one player or former player say anything negative about him. Or staff/co-worker for that matter. I don’t count ‘unnamed sources’ just to be clear.

* When he sees something that works in a particular game/scenario, it seems that he can exploit the weakness(es) with adjustments thereafter, not necessarily half-time adjustments either. This is a factor that has been inconsistent throughout his tenure thus far, and is another reason I do not believe We can truly judge the merit with so many other variables involved, without seeing more execution.

* Compare Orton’s first year in the system, to this, his second. Any questions?

* He has led the team to 11 Wins. Any other rookie head coach having a total 11 – 16 record up to this point in his first two seasons, wouldn’t be viewed so negatively, methinks.

* He pisses off Todd Haley. What’s there not to like about that? ;-J